Ballet is type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. Over time, Ballet has become a highly technical form of dance with it's own vocabulary. It is normally performed to, or with the accompaniment of classical music. Ballet is taught in ballet schools all over the world, and has been influential as a form of dance globally. Ballet, generally, is the foundation for other dance styles. This form of dance is very hard to master and requires much practice. Classical ballet is the most methodical of the ballet styles; it adheres to traditional ballet technique. Posture, alignment, strength, balance, feeling and flexibility are vital for becoming a classical ballet dancer. Although normally you see women doing ballet, men can practice ballet skills as well.
Pointe Shoes
Most ballet is practiced on pointe shoes, which are shoes that developed from the desire for dancers to appear weightless and sylph-like and have evolved to enable dancers to dance on the tips of their toes for extended periods of time. Generally worn by female dancers, pointe shoes share two important structural features that enable dancers to dance on the tips of their toes:
A box within the front end of the shoe that encases and supports the dancer's toes.
A shank, which is a piece of rigid material that serves to stiffen the sole so as to provide support for the arch of the en pointe foot.